ESPNJan 9, 2026, 09:45 AM ETEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAll-Star guard Trae Young addressed his departure from the Hawks on social media Friday, lamenting never getting to "see our full potential" in Atlanta and adding that he is "ecstatic" for the next chapter. Young spent seven-plus seasons with the Hawks but pushed for a trade to the Washington Wizards through talks between his agents and Atlanta general manager Onsi Saleh."The last few years weren't how I wanted them to be," Young wrote. "Expectations that we created for ourselves, reaching heights that Atlanta has never reached before."Bringing a championship to Atlanta was always my goal. However, between the injuries, the setbacks, and situations that didn't make sense, we never truly got to see our full potential."Young's move to the Wizards has not been announced, but sources told ESPN's Shams Charania this week that Young is heading to Washington for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Young, who has $95 million remaining on his deal, including a player option for 2026-27, wrote that he was willing to take a chance outside Atlanta."The pain of staying the same eventually outweighed the uncertainty of change.
